Display device



D. B. GORDON DISPLAY DEVICE May 26, 1931.

Filed April 23. 1928 uarantor fiaa d/as. 'ora m' attorneys Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES DOUGLAS B. GORDON, 0F HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed April 23,

This invention relates to display devices and has for an object the provision of a device provided with a reflecting surface upon which certain symbols are projected from a l transparent sheet of material.

Another object is to provide a display device wherein the symbols to be projected are preferably out of the line of vision of the person viewing the device.

Still another object is to so arrange the reflecting surface with respect to the symbols that the reflected images will simulate the real symbols in upright positions.

With the above and other objectsin view, the invention consists in certain novel fea tures of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly'pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display device constructed in accordance with the present invention V Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the display device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the device.

Generally the device comprises an open face frame in the top of which is supported a transparent sheet carrying the symbols to be displayed, while a second sheet having a reflecting surface is positioned below the transparent sheet and at an angle thereto, the arrangement being such that the light from above will not only project the symbols upon the reflecting surface but will do so in such a manner that the images will assume upright positions.

Specifically the device comprises an open face frame 10 having end walls 11 and 12 respectively and an inclined longitudinally extending wall 13 joining the two end walls. Each end wall is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 14 at its top edge while a strip 15 is secured to each wall and is spaced from its respective flange 14 to form therewith a guideway 16, the rearend portion of each strip being bent toward the flange to formastop 17 Preferably a second set of strips 18-are secured to the end walls below 1928. Serial Nof272,203.

the first mentioned strips, each strip 18 being spaced above an end of the inclined wall 13 to form therewith a second guideway 19 on the end wall. Each strip 18 is likewise provided with an end portion which is bent toward the wall 13 to provide a stop 20. 7

With the above arrangement, there is provided an upper pair of horizontal guideways within which is adapted to be supported, a transparent sheet of glass 21 upon which suitable symbols 22 are formed by applying a coat of paint 22 to the glass and thencutting the preferred symbols into the paint. The lower pair of inclined guideways 19 is adapted to receive a sheet of material 23 having an inclined reflectingsurface, both sheets being detachably secured in place by means of channel shaped finish strips 24 and 25 respectively which encase the outer edges of the sheets. These strips 24 and 25 are secured to the frame 10 in any desired manner such as by fasteners 26. To provide a neat appearance finish strips 40, 41, 42 and 43 of U cross section are used to conceal the edges of the metal above the glass 21. "As shown, the strips 40, 41 and 42 each embrace the edges ofthe top wall of the frame 10, whereas the strip 43 has an extension 43 secured in and carried by the strip 24. j j

With the device as thus constructed, it will be apparent that ifit is placed in a position where the transparent sheet is exposed to daylight, the symbols will be pro ected upon the surface 23 insuch a manner thatthe reflected images assume positions disposed at right angles to the real symbols. In use the device is adapted to be displayed with the open face directly in the line of vision of the person viewing the same. In this position the transparent sheet will be horizontally disposed and usually out of sight with the reflecting surface at an acute angle to the latter, whereby the reflected images will assume vertical positions and appear to stand up from the reflecting surface,

The reflectingsurface is shown in the present instance as being disposed at an angle of 45 to the transparent sheet and inthisposi- 7 tion the reflected images will be the same size as the real symbols. It is of courseievident that by changing the angle of the reflecting surface from the reflected images will appear either taller or shorter than the real symbols according to the direction in which the surface is shifted. It will also be apparent that my display device may be used at nightsaszwellisas'inmthe day time'by positioning -aqsource of illumination above the transparent plate and to one side thereof.

iVhile the above described frame is shown as the preferred form of supporting means for the sheets, it is of course evident that any desired means may be employed for positionobtain the required results. With the present construction, should either of'the sheets be broken-or if it isldesired to substitute new sheets, it 'willi'be necessary only to remove one or :the other of the: finish strips 24: and 25;sli pput the :sheet in=question, sliderthe new sheet into'pla ceand thensecure its respective finish 'strip'to-theframe:

Fronithe foregoing it will be apparent that I have-provided a display device which may be-used inwinany different ways for display and advertising purposes, this device being sin1ple-in design and "economically manufacturedd While it is believed that from the foregoing descriptiomthe nature-and advantages of the-'invention will be readily apparent, I de sire to-have itunderstood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and th'atsuclrchanges may be resorted to when-desiredas fall? within the scope of what is claimed;

W hat *I-clziim as my invention: is

1. 11m display device, a frame having spaced end wall's provided with: inwardly projecting flanges at their top edges, angular strips-secured to the end walls" and having inwardly extending 'flanges spaced fromv the flanges-- aforesaidand cooperating therewith to form guideways,an-inclined wall joining said' endfwalls', a second set of angular strips secured 'to said end walls adjacent said inclined" wall and forming therewith 1 guidewa s,-asheet of-inaterial having a'refl'ecting surface" supported upon said inclined wall andsecuredin-qsaid last" mentioned guideways, and a'transparent sheet of material having symbols applied thereto, secured in saidi-firstmentioned guideways.

25 1a a display device, a frame having spacedaend walls provided with inwardly projecting flanges at their, top edges, angular strips secured "tothe end walls andhaving inwardly-eXtending-flanges spaced from the flanges aforesaid-and cooperating therewith to form guideways, an. inclined wall joining said;end walls, a second set of angular strips secured-itosaid ends walls adjacent theend portions of, said. iliclinedwall and forming therewith guideways,;. a sheet of" material having a-reflecting'surface supported in said 111g one sheet relative to -the'other so as tofirst mentioned guideways, a transparent sheet of material having symbols applied thereto, positioned in said top guideways, and means for detachably securing said sheets in said guideways including channel shaped finish strips encasing the outer edges of said sheets 3. In a display device,,a frame having end Walls, the end walls being spaced laterally apart, and having inturned flanges at their upper ends,anincliried-wall extending between said end walls with opposite ends of said inclined wall secured to said end Walls and with the lower ,edge of said inclined wall at the lower edges of said end walls, said inclined wall, having; an: upstanding extension at. its upper endiprovidediwithran inturnedpflange that ox erlaps and is securedqto the inturned flanges of saidend .walls, a sheet of transparent material paralleltosaid first mentioned inturned flanges, a sheet of material parallel to said inclined wall'and havinga reflecting: surface, and means associated with said end walls vfor holding, the two sheets aforesaid in position.

4. In a-,display'device, avframe-havingaend walls, and an intermediate inclined wall,the end walls being spaced;laterallyi'apart and having inturned flanges at theiruppeiwends, the inclined Wall extending betweensaid end walls with opposite ends of said-inclined wall secured to said end walls and with thelower edge of said inclined wall atthe loweredges of said end walls, said inclined :WfillalMtVllng an upstanding extension at its upper end provided With an:v 1 inturned 1 flange that; is -secured :to theinturned flanges of. said end walls, a sheet of transparent materialparale lel to said 'firstmentioned .inturned flanges, a sheet .10f material parallel to-saidinclined wall and havingsasreflecting surface, astrip detachably secured to the end Walls and :retaining the sheet of transparent :material in position, and .austrip embracing:thetlower edge'of the inclined wall jandtheloweredge of the last i mentioned .sheet; retaining the latter relativeto'the inclinedlwall and ;having portions secured .to'said GDdjiWallS.

5. In a display device, aframe having spaced end Wall's providediat their! uppeL- edges with inturned flanges, an intermediate wall terminally connected to the i said end walls and provided at its upper edgewitlran extension having aninturned-flange; and strips secured :to the end walls beneatheth'e first mentioned fint-urnedrzflanges 'andjhaving inwardly extending flangesspaced from and cooperating with the said inturned flanges of the end walls and Z'wit-hthe inturned flange of the intermediate Wall A to; form guideways for sheet-material;

6. In; a display. device, aeframe having spaced end Walls provided ,at their; upper edges with inturnedvfianges, stripssecured to the endwallsbeneath said'inturned flanges and having inturned flanges substantially parallel to the inturned flanges of the end walls and forming therewith guideways for sheet material, an intermediate wall terminally connected to said end walls and provid ed at its upper edge with an inturned flange that extends over the strips aforesaid, and abutments for sheet material carried by said strips beneath and extending toward said last mentioned inturned flange.

7. In a display device, a frame having spaced end walls provided at their upper edges with inturned flanges, and an inclined wall terminally connected to the end walls, the lower edge of said inclined wall being adjacent the lower edges ofsaid end walls, said inclined wall being provided at its upper edge with an extension having an in turned flange secured to the inturned flanges of the end walls.

8. In a display device, a frame having spaced end walls, strips secured to the inner faces of said end walls adjacent the upper edges thereof and having inturned flanges spaced from said upper edges and constituting slides for sheet material, strips at the inner ends of said flanges for limiting inward sliding movement of the sheet material, and means associated with the upper edges of the end walls for retaining sheet material on the inturned flanges of said strips.

9. In a display device, a frame having spaced end walls, strips secured to the inner faces of said end walls adjacent the upper edges thereof and having inturned flanges spaced from said upper edges and constituting slides for sheet material, strips at the inner ends of said flanges for limiting inward sliding movement of sheet material, and a connection between said end walls having an inturned flange overlapping said strips for retaining sheet material on the inturned flanges of the strips.

10. In a display device, a frame having spaced end walls, strips secured to the inner faces of said end walls adjacent the upper edges thereof and having inturned flanges spaced from said upper edges and constituting slides for sheet material, strips at the inner ends of said flanges for limiting inward sliding movement of the sheet material, and means separable from but normally terminally connected to said end wallsand having means overlapping said strips for retaining sheet material on the inturned flanges of the strips.

11. In a display device, a frame having spaced end walls, strips secured to the inner faces of said end walls adjacent the upper edges thereof and having inturned flanges spaced from 7 said upper edges and con stituting slides for sheet material, strips at the inner ends of said flanges for limiting inward sliding movement of the sheetmaterial, a connection between said end walls having an inturned flange overlapping the inner ends of said strips for retaining the sheet material on the inturned flanges of the strips, and means separable from but normally terminally connected to said end walls and having means overlapping the outer ends of said strips for retaining sheet material on the inturned flanges of said strips.

12. In a display device, a frame having spaced end walls, and an inclined Wall constituting a slide for sheet material extending between and having lateral flanges secured to said end walls, strips secured to said end walls and having inturned flanges spaced from and serving to guide sheet material on said inclined wall and having other flanges at their inner ends extending toward said inclined wall and limiting inward sliding movement of sheet materal between said inclined wall and inturned flanges of said strips, and means separable from but normally extending between and connected to said end walls for limiting outward sliding movement of sheet material from between said inclined wall and the flanges aforesaid of said strips.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DOUGLAS B. GORDON. 

